At least one in four NFL players may develop degenerative brain disease, major study warns

A recent study published in the British Medical Journal has found that up to a quarter of former National Football League (NFL) players may develop chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease caused by repeated head impacts. CTE is linked to contact sports, such as American football and boxing, as well as military exposure to explosive blasts.

The study, led by Harvard Medical School professor Daniel Daneshvar, examined the brains of deceased NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021. Out of the 878 players who died during this time, 235 donated their brains for examination, and 215 of these brains were found to have confirmed CTE. This means that at minimum, 24.5% of NFL players developed CTE, with a maximum estimate of 97.7%.

The severity of CTE was also found to be significantly associated with dementia in the players, who often suffered from memory loss, difficulty walking, emotional instability, and suicidal thoughts. However, the study acknowledges several limitations, such as incomplete coverage of former players and potential inaccuracies in family member recollections.

The players' union emphasized the sobering reminder that football carries real risks, and the NFL acknowledged taking steps to reduce concussions and head impacts, while committing to providing resources to enhance players' well-being.